CNC is Cycle North Carolina. It is a week long trip and about 450 miles. The route changes every year. This year we rode from Blowing Rock to Surf City.
Day 1, Saturday - Up at 3 am to drive to Surf City to catch the bus to Blowing Rock. First thing off the bus, I see my friends, Bob and Christine. They are an awesome couple who have been married over 30 years and love each other more and more each day. They ride a tandem and SMOKE up the road. We finally get going at 9 am. Luckily, I am on the bus with Bob and Christine and Stan and Elizabeth (from our club). As we are driving to Blowing Rock, it starts raining ALOT! We get to Blowing Rock at around 4 pm and it is pouring down rain. Finally off the bus, we start to put up our tents and I hear from my friend, Allison! Then I see my friend from Tennessee, Ricky! It was awesome. After a little reunion, we hop in our tents and prepare for day 1 of our ride. Did I mention it was still raining?
Day 2, Sunday-Blowing Rock to Lenoir-58 miles. After a yummy breakfast, we head out to the Blue Ridge Parkway. AWESOME. Cannot even express in words how beautiful it was. The leaves were changing and the views were absolutely incredible. Of course we had to stop and take tons of pictures. Luckily we met up with our other friend, Sandy, on the way to the viaduct! Lots of climbing but tons of descending. On the way down, I realize that we were on the road where I ran a marathon a few years ago (Ridge to Bridge...downhill for 13 miles). We are flying downhill and this lady is laying on her horn like a crazy person. Like we really have somewhere else to go so I give her a salute and continue downhill. It was so fun! At the rest stop, we all meet back up and have some yummy BBQ. We roll into town and have a fun evening at the Tennesee Ranch.
Day 3, Monday, Lenior to Statesville-60 miles-Fun day. More climbing. Fun night in Statesville listening to local musicians and yummy pasta!
Day 4, Tuesday, Statesville to Thomasville-60 miles or so-Did I mention more climbing? By this day, I am asking God if this is a test? I want to be a better climber but not in one week! We roll in and both Allison and I have massages scheduled. Allison naps in the grass as we are just pooped. Ricky (Tennessee Ranch Master) tells us that Bobby Labonte (NASCAR driver) rode that day but we didn't see him. We go downtown for dinner and music. As Allison and I are standing downtown, this man walks by and I think I know that guy and sure enough it is Bobby Labonte. I go over and tell him my friend, Kathy, is a big fan of his and ask if I can get a picture of him....okay, I first say something dumb like you're Bobby Labonte (like he doesn't know who he is). I can tell he doesn't want everyone to bum rush him so I ask Allison if she can take a picture of my friend, Fred and I. She says hello to Fred and he says "yeah, we go way back!" It was so funny. Allison was not as entertained as I was but we went back over after I told her who he was. He introduced to his son, Tyler. It was awesome.
Day 5, Wednesday-Thomasville to Sanford-CENTURY day...Did I mention we are still riding hills? More climbing today than any other day. 4700 feet of climbing. We had a great day though. We stopped and had yummy biscuits and gravy and saw the Richard Petty museum. It was a long day and the roads were bumpy. We did it though. Bonus Allison and I got a great picture on our bikes...that never happens!
Day 6, Thursday-Sanford to Dunn-about 60 miles-Great day. We rolled quite well today! Roads were not as desirable as I wished but it is finally flattening out. As we rolled into town, there were about 5 guys on my wheel and I felt great! Allison and I went out for Mexican and had a great evening. We were afraid we might never get back to camp but then a great lady came by and got us back to camp!
Day 7, Friday-Dunn to Kenansville, 60 miles or so-Okay, I am ready to go home so we are rolling. Allison and I were often the only girls in a group of boys and we hung on with the best of them. It is flat and windy, which is what we ride! We get in right after noon. It was nice to hang out. Allison and I had massages and they were great. After working on some bikes, we hung out at the Tennessee Ranch! Unfortunately, our friend, Bob took a tumble off his bike courtesy of a little bitty dog. He was fine but had lots of road rash and required stitches in his elbow. Ever resilient he rode his bike back from the emergency road.
Day 8, Saturday, Kenansville to Surf City, 55 miles-Last year I wasn't ready to go home but this year I was so away we rode! It was great and I was so glad I had spent so many hours in the saddle! Never had I been able to hang on to a group like this. Tim and I rolled into Surf City. After I got off my bike, I went to the ocean! I took off my jersey and right into the ocean I went. This was the first time I had been to the ocean all year. It was great. This year I was quite moved and almost cried. It was so great to see all the riders come in! It was great to put my feet in the ocean with my friend, Allison. After about an hour, I was on my way home. It was a beautiful day. Lots of blue sky, in the 80s, top down on the Jeep and rolled home. Stopped by the shop to see my peeps and realized how much I missed them! They seem to miss me too!
It was a great week! I was ready to come home though. I am thankful for the opportunities that God has given me! I am also thankful for my cat and my little house! Thankful for my CNC friends too...Allison,Ricky, Tim, Bob, Christine, Sandy, Ragan and all my new friends along the way. Only one missing thing this year...missed my long distance partner, Jimmy D!
